DTBBW Chapter 73

Chapter 73

With a single word from Rita, the duke’s mansion was thrown into an uproar. It was already scandalous enough to have a foreign duchess, but now a mistress claiming to bear the duke’s child had appeared.

The duke insisted that he had never even seen Rita, let alone violated her. However, when he saw the evidence she presented and the identity of her witness, he was left speechless.

In Rita’s hands were the duke’s discarded shirt from the inn room and a slip stained with blood. The witness she named was none other than his trusted aide.

“Thomas, are you telling me that I truly violated that woman?”

“…I’m sorry, Your Grace.”

Thomas realized that he had been completely deceived by Rita. The assault had never happened; she had seduced him, the duke’s aide, solely to orchestrate this moment.

But he could not reveal the truth. Doing so would place the full burden of their sins on a child who had yet to be born.

Thus, Thomas resigned himself to serving as the mansion’s steward. He had willingly offered his own shackles—not to hold on to Rita, but to protect his daughter, Susan.

—

“Your Grace, please help me. For the sake of the bond we once shared, do not abandon Susan.”

Stefan looked down at Thomas, who remained kneeling before him, his gaze filled with desperate plea.

“Foolish man, you should have taken Susan and left when late Duke passed away.”

“…I could not abandon my master twice. I believed that the only way to protect both his son and my daughter was to remain in the Edmond mansion as a steward for life.”

Thomas had always seemed like a neutral bystander, keeping his distance whenever trouble arose. Sometimes, he even appeared indifferent. But now, Stefan understood—it had all been for his protection.

Gratitude and resentment flickered in Stefan’s eyes as he looked at Thomas. He had to ask.

“Was it you… who cared for me during those cursed nights?”

“I am sorry, Your Grace. That was all I could do for you.”

“Then why did you leave the door open last night?”

“Because there is now a duchess in the mansion.”

“The problem is… that another woman was there that night.”

At Stefan’s bitter remark, Thomas responded with an ambiguous smile.

“Your Grace, you are like a fierce wind. But, like in that old fable, it is not the wind that makes a traveler remove his cloak—it is the warmth of the sun. You must remember that.”

“What on earth are you talking about?”

“If you cannot offer warmth to everyone, at least offer it to one person.”

Though Stefan frowned at Thomas’s cryptic words, the man continued.

“You may not realize it yet, but she is similar to you. No, in my eyes, you are exactly alike. So, do not push her away. Everything happens for a reason.”

“Even Susan’s situation?”

“…It is an unfortunate incident, but at least it has given me the chance to confess everything to you.”

Thomas gave a faint smile, and Stefan shook his head.

“You are a man I will never fully understand.”

“That means I have lived a successful life to some extent.”

“How so?”

“I only wished not to be called a traitor by Your Grace.”

“And you still have the nerve to joke in this situation?”

“It is not a joke, Your Grace.”

Thomas’s serious tone made Stefan sigh and reveal his own thoughts.

“Marquis Eden will not harm Susan.”

“I know. That is why Rita has not taken drastic action yet.”

“And yet, you still plan to rescue Susan?”

“I cannot stand by and watch my daughter be held hostage. One hostage is enough—me.”

Unconsciously, Stefan nodded. He had spent the past twenty-one years burning with vengeance, but Thomas’s years as a hostage had surely been just as miserable and humiliating.

“Are you planning to go yourself?”

“Yes, Your Grace.”

“Have you found out where Susan is being held?”

“Not yet.”

“Then what exactly do you plan to do in Herkeni all alone?”

“I will tell them that Susan is my daughter.”

Stefan shot up from the sofa, pulling Thomas to his feet.

“That could put Susan in even greater danger.”

“Honesty is always the best approach. If they are wise enough to look ahead, they will see that there is no benefit in keeping an insignificant hostage.”

Thomas spoke with a confidence that suggested he had a plan. Stefan met his gaze.

“You have already made all the arrangements, haven’t you? Then why are you asking me for help?”

“I need Your Grace to help me seek asylum.”

“Asylum?”

“I will take Susan and leave. I am truly sorry to say this, but I do not wish to return to the mansion ever again.”

Thomas’s green eyes grew misty with emotion.

In those eyes, Stefan saw Susan.

He had spent his life questioning who his sister’s real father was. Yet, not once had he considered Susan a stranger.

If she were to learn that she was not truly of the Edmond bloodline, her pride would never allow her to see them as family again. They were not bound by blood, but they had been siblings in name. That was enough for Stefan to want to send her somewhere safe, somewhere within his reach.

“Then where would be best?”

“Anywhere, as long as I am with Susan.”

Thomas, despite the situation, looked genuinely happy—as if he were envisioning a future with his daughter.

“She won’t welcome the idea, but we should go to the Hwahwol Continent.”

“The Hwahwol Continent?”

For a brief moment, a shadow passed over Thomas’s face. He had recalled someone he had long forgotten.

“Have you… been looking for your mother? For the duchess?”

“No, nothing like that. I simply purchased a few houses in the northern region for investment purposes.”

“…I see.”

“I will send someone soon, but for now, I need you to manage the estate there.”

“Understood, Your Grace.”

Stefan meticulously mapped out Thomas’s exile, as if he had been preparing for it for years. The plan was flawless.

“When do you intend to leave?”

“Immediately.”

“Right now?”

“Yes, Your Grace.”

Through the window, the sun was beginning to rise, its golden crown peeking over the horizon.

With a small smile, Stefan pulled Thomas into a firm embrace.

“Thank you for everything, Thomas.”

“No, it is I who must thank you, Your Grace.”

“Take one of my horses. I will assign you an escort as well. Your belongings will be sent to Bayton Port, where you can depart for Hwahwol Continent.”

“Understood, Your Grace. Thank you, truly.”

As Stefan released him from his embrace, he added one last request.

“Take good care of Susan.”

Tears welled in Thomas’s eyes. He nodded quickly before hastily leaving the study.

“What a man…”

Stefan sent messages via carrier pigeon to Brighton twin brothers.

To Finn, he instructed to oversee Thomas and Susan’s departure. To Bell, he ordered a return to the Courtney region to investigate any traces of Rita.

What Rita had done twenty-one years ago was beyond shocking.

She had used a complete stranger to infiltrate the duke’s mansion. That was not something an inexperienced woman could have orchestrated.

“This time, you won’t escape, Rita.”

—

The news of Remington’s acceptance into the academy lifted my spirits.

With both Remington and Leopold now under my protection in the imperial city, I could finally breathe easy.

If all went according to plan, Leopold would focus on growing his trading company while Remington dedicated himself to his studies for the next four years. I could protect them completely.

And if I managed to conceive before then, I could even bring forward my escape.

“Congratulations on being accepted to the Imperial Academy, Remington.”

“Thank you so much. It’s all thanks to you, Sister.”

“Study as much as you like.”

“I will, Sister.”

As Remington and I exchanged warm smiles, Rita, who had just entered the dining room, scoffed at the sight.

“One would think he had achieved some great military feat. What’s so special about getting into the Imperial Academy?”

Rita had been bitter ever since I failed to convince Stefan to reverse the deed cancellation.

But I wasn’t concerned. Stefan would soon resolve the matter with Susan, and I no longer needed to concern myself with Rita’s affairs.

So, I simply turned to Stella, who had followed Rita inside, and offered her a friendly congratulations.

“Congratulations on your academy acceptance as well, Lady Stella.”

“There’s no need for that. It was only expected.”

Despite her indifferent tone, Stella’s excitement was evident.

“Remington, as classmates, be sure to look after Lady Stella.”

It was just a customary remark, but Stella’s eyes widened with offense.

“Why would you say that, Sister-in-law? I can handle myself just fine.”

“Still, it’s always good for friends to support each other.”

“Friends? Who said we were friends? The daughter of a duke and the son of a count—how laughable!”

Everyone at the table froze.

“‘Laughable?’ My dear Lady Stella, I believe the phrase you’re looking for is ‘even the dogs on the street would laugh.’”